A board order needs to do two things for EBAS: name the categories the licensee must complete, and set a window to complete them in. EBAS handles everything after that, including scenario selection, Prometric authorization, grading, and reporting. An order that leaves the categories out comes back to the board for clarification while the licensee waits.
What the order has to name
The order identifies which EBAS categories the licensee must complete. Boards commonly write it as a single sentence:
“The licensee is required to take and pass the EBAS assessments in the following categories: [Category 1], [Category 2], [Category 3].”
For guidance on which categories fit which conduct, see How to Choose the Right Categories for a Case.
Setting the completion window
EBAS recommends a completion window of three to six months, and that is the deadline your board writes into the order. The assessment itself takes about four to six weeks from registration to results.
Most licensees finish near the end of whatever window they are given, so a longer window produces a later finish rather than a faster start. Two details help. Tie the deadline to the effective date of the order, so the window has a fixed start. And if your board wants to cap retakes, write the cap into the order and tell EBAS, since EBAS does not cap attempts on its own.
Early or late in the order
Both placements are valid, and the difference is what your board wants the result to do.
Placing the assessment early establishes a baseline before remediation begins, so required coursework has a target:
“Within 30 days of the effective date of this order, the licensee shall complete an EBAS Boundaries assessment. Results shall inform the focus and scope of required continuing education, which shall include no fewer than 20 hours addressing professional boundaries and ethics.”
Placing it late shows where the licensee’s reasoning stands after the required coursework:
“Upon completion of all required coursework, the licensee shall complete an EBAS Boundaries assessment within 30 days to evaluate whether the education addressed the underlying reasoning patterns.”
Give the assessment its own window either way, so it does not inherit the timeline of everything else in the order.
Full sample language
Boards adapt these to their own format and statutory requirements.
Board order:
“The licensee shall complete three Ethics and Boundaries Assessment Services (EBAS) assessments in the following categories: [Category 1], [Category 2], and [Category 3]. All assessments shall be completed within six months of the effective date of this order. The licensee is responsible for scheduling and payment. Results shall be reported directly to the board.”
Consent agreement:
“[Licensee name] agrees to submit written proof of successfully passing the Boundaries, Unprofessional Conduct, and Professional Standards essay assessments offered by Ethics and Boundaries Assessment Services LLC (EBAS) within six months of the execution of this agreement. [Licensee name] agrees to be responsible for all costs associated with the EBAS assessments.”
If the requirement goes in a consent agreement
The assessment is identical and so is the scoring standard. What changes is the timing anchor and what the document can do.
In a consent agreement the window runs from the date the agreement is executed, so the same six-month term starts on a different day than it would under an order. A consent agreement is also often the earlier intervention point, which makes it a good place for an assessment that produces a baseline your board can use to shape the rest of the remediation terms.
An order, by contrast, more often carries consequences for non-completion and more often ties the assessment to a licensure decision. Where results will inform reinstatement, continued practice, or the lifting of restrictions, say so in the order.
What the order does not need to cover
| Item | Where it is handled |
|---|---|
| Scenario selection | EBAS assigns by profession and category, usually within 24 hours of payment |
| Prometric authorization | EBAS handles it. Boards need no Prometric account |
| The testing center fee | Included in the EBAS fee. The licensee pays EBAS only |
| Results recipient | A standing arrangement with EBAS, not a case-by-case term |
| Scoring turnaround | Five to seven business days |
For the full division of responsibility, see Who Does What: Board, Licensee, and EBAS.
Checking an order before it is final
A pre-order consultation is a short call to read the draft language on a specific case, confirm the categories match the conduct, and catch anything that would send the order back. Sample order language adaptable to your board’s format is available from admin@ebas.org.
